Campaign against demolition of historic Haverhill house

Josh Thomas

A campaign to protect one of the oldest houses in Haverhill from demolition is gathering momentum.

A planning application has been submitted to demolish Flint Cottage in Bumpstead Road in order to provide an access road to seven proposed new properties that the current owner wishes to build in the back garden of the cottage.

Next-door-neighbour, Matt Cooper, has set up a campaign to save the building, which he believes is of historic importance to the town.

A petition launched to show public opposition to the plans has so far received nearly a thousand signatures in support of saving the cottage.

“It’s part of Haverhill’s history,” said Mr Cooper of the cottage, that can be traced back to 1825. “It [the petition] really highlights the sentiment that people have these days concerning the destruction of old buildings in order to build new ones to make money.

“We hope to be able to convince St Edmundsbury Council planners that this property should be the subject of a Local Heritage Asset listing.

We would like the residents of Haverhill and the surrounding area to petition against the demolition and for the re listing of this landmark property which, if plans are approved, would be gone forever.

“By getting the building relisted we will ensure its survival for many, many more generations to come.”

At a planning committee meeting of Haverhill Town Council, the applicant of the planning submission, Kenneth Dobinson, said that demolishing the cottage was not something they would want to do by choice, but that they were being forced to do it by the council’s Highways Department to provide access to the proposed new properties.

Members of the public can access the petition at https://www.change.org/p/st-edmundsbury-council-save-flint-cottage-bumpstead-rd-haverhill-cb9-from-demolition